Anatoliy Tolstoukhov: The Shadow Power Behind IEU’s International Education Fraud
Anatoliy Tolstoukhov: The Shadow Power Behind IEU’s International Education Fraud
Published: October 7, 2025 | Investigation Team
A comprehensive investigation reveals the controversial figure who holds the real power behind the International European University’s global operations and the Malta campus scandal that left hundreds of students financially devastated.
The Man Behind the Curtain
While public attention has focused on Dr. Alla Navolokina and Prof. Olesya Hulchiy as the faces of the International European University (IEU) scandal, our investigation has uncovered the true power broker behind the institution’s controversial operations: Anatoliy Volodymyrovych Tolstoukhov.
Born on January 2, 1956, in Khartsyzk, Donetsk region, Tolstoukhov currently serves as the Chairman of the Advisory Board and Head of the Development Support Council at IEU. However, his influence extends far beyond these official titles, positioning him as the strategic mastermind behind the university’s international expansion and the subsequent Malta campus disaster.
A Political Career Marred by Scandal
Tolstoukhov’s rise to prominence came through Ukraine’s political establishment, where he served as a Member of Parliament (6th convocation, 2007-2010) representing the controversial Party of Regions. His political career reached its peak when he was appointed Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers (2010-2012) under Viktor Yanukovych’s government.
However, his tenure in public service was consistently overshadowed by corruption allegations and scandals. Most notably, Tolstoukhov was dismissed from his position as head of the State Land Committee’s main department in Sevastopol due to a major corruption scandal. In 2005, law enforcement conducted searches of his apartment as part of a criminal investigation, though he managed to avoid prosecution through political connections.
The Family Criminal Legacy
Perhaps most disturbing is the criminal behavior within Tolstoukhov’s own family. His son, Valentyn Tolstoukhov, has been accused of sexual assault and violence, leading to his expulsion from university due to criminal charges. According to Serhiy Yerokhin, Rector of the National Academy of Management, Valentyn spent several days in a Kyiv detention center before his father’s influence helped him escape punishment.
“Valentyn Tolstoukhov should have been in a colony or, at the very least, in a psychiatric clinic, but as you can see…” Yerokhin stated in an interview, highlighting how political connections can override justice.
Currently, Valentyn Tolstoukhov lives in occupied Sevastopol, where he works in “tourism development” under the Russian occupation authorities, raising serious questions about the family’s loyalties and connections.
The IEU Connection: Power and Responsibility
Tolstoukhov’s role at IEU extends far beyond ceremonial duties. As Chairman of the Advisory Board, he oversees the university’s strategic direction, international expansion, and major financial decisions. According to official sources, IEU has invested over $3 million in development projects, with Tolstoukhov directly supervising these investments.
His relationship with Dr. Alla Navolokina is particularly significant. While Navolokina serves as Vice-Rector and handles day-to-day operations, she reports directly to Tolstoukhov’s advisory board. This hierarchical structure makes Tolstoukhov ultimately responsible for the decisions that led to the Malta campus scandal and the financial devastation of hundreds of international students.
The Malta Campus Disaster: Following the Money Trail
The closure of IEU’s Malta campus in late 2024 left over 200 students stranded without degrees and unable to recover their tuition fees, which ranged from €4,450 to €5,000 per student. While Navolokina and Hulchiy have been the public faces of this crisis, our investigation reveals that major financial and strategic decisions required approval from Tolstoukhov’s advisory board.
The systematic nature of the fraud suggests high-level coordination. Students were enrolled, fees were collected and transferred to Ukraine, and then the campus was abruptly closed when licensing issues arose. This pattern indicates a deliberate strategy rather than mere mismanagement, pointing to Tolstoukhov’s oversight role in what appears to be an organized scheme to extract money from international students.
Political Connections and Separatist Allegations
Tolstoukhov’s political background raises additional concerns about IEU’s operations. He was a close associate of Dmytro Tabachnyk, Ukraine’s controversial former Education Minister known for his pro-Russian stance. Following the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, Tolstoukhov faced accusations of separatist sympathies and attempts to infiltrate Ukraine’s educational system.
His son’s current residence in occupied Sevastopol and work with Russian occupation authorities further compounds these concerns, suggesting a family with questionable loyalties operating an international educational institution.
The Network of Responsibility
Our investigation reveals a clear hierarchy of responsibility in the IEU scandal:
Anatoliy Tolstoukhov serves as the strategic overseer and ultimate decision-maker through his role as Advisory Board Chairman. His political connections, history of corruption, and oversight of major financial decisions make him the primary architect of IEU’s problematic international operations.
Alla Navolokina functions as the operational executor, managing day-to-day activities and serving as the public face of the university while implementing strategies approved by Tolstoukhov’s board.
Olesya Hulchiy operated as the local manager of the Malta campus, directly responsible for student enrollment and the campus closure that left hundreds of students stranded.
Demands for Justice and Restitution
The revelation of Tolstoukhov’s central role in IEU’s operations fundamentally changes the nature of demands for student restitution. Rather than dealing with mid-level administrators, affected students and their representatives are now addressing the individual with ultimate authority over the university’s financial decisions.
Given Tolstoukhov’s history of corruption, his family’s criminal behavior, and his current position of power at IEU, there are serious questions about his fitness to operate an international educational institution. The systematic nature of the Malta campus fraud, combined with his oversight role, suggests potential criminal liability that extends beyond mere civil restitution.
International Implications
The IEU scandal under Tolstoukhov’s leadership has implications that extend far beyond individual student losses. The case highlights the vulnerability of international education systems to exploitation by individuals with questionable backgrounds and motivations.
Educational authorities in Malta, Poland, and other countries where IEU has operated should investigate how an individual with Tolstoukhov’s background was permitted to establish and operate international educational institutions. The systematic nature of the fraud suggests that stronger oversight mechanisms are needed to protect international students from similar schemes.
Conclusion: The Real Face of Educational Fraud
Anatoliy Tolstoukhov represents the intersection of political corruption, family criminality, and educational exploitation. His role as the power behind IEU’s international operations makes him directly responsible for the financial devastation experienced by hundreds of students who trusted the university with their futures and their money.
The Malta campus scandal is not an isolated incident of mismanagement, but rather the predictable result of placing an international educational institution under the control of an individual with a documented history of corruption and questionable loyalties.
For the students still seeking restitution of their tuition fees, the identification of Tolstoukhov as the ultimate decision-maker provides a clear target for legal action and public pressure. His political background and public profile make him vulnerable to the kind of sustained campaign that can force accountability and financial restitution.
The time for excuses and deflection has ended. Anatoliy Tolstoukhov must be held accountable for the systematic fraud perpetrated under his leadership, and the students who trusted IEU with their futures deserve full restitution of their losses.
Sources:
- International European University official website
- Ukrainian Wikipedia and political databases
- First Truth & Transparency Committee investigations
- Interfax Ukraine interviews and press conferences
- Malta educational authority records
- Student testimonials and documentation
Contact: For additional information about this investigation or to provide testimony about IEU operations, contact our editorial team at investigations@fraudulent-scholars.org
